Automatic skip hoist



March 26, M, 5 FIRST AUTOMATIC SKIP HOI ST Filed June 8, 1951 6 94/ 1 ATTORNE Patented Mar. 26, 1935 jffiioea'zvo l "-QJAUKIIOMALTIC SKIP HOISTTMalilonE.'Eirstjllakewood,"Ohio, assignoritdlhe Ohio, a corporation ofOhio 'C.'"0."Bartlettf'& Snow Gompany', Cleveland.

Application June s, 1931, Serial Nb. 542,827

2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved automatic loading skip hoist wherethe loading is initiated by movement of the empty skip, and stopped bythe pressure of the loaded skip. Such an apparatus, built according tomy invention performs with a quietness and precision which prolongs thelife of the moving parts, and through simplicity of construction effectsan economy of space and of installation cost. The following descriptionclearly discloses the means used in securing these results.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and thefollowing description setting forth in detail certain means embodyingthe invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one ofvarious mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may beused.

In said annexed drawing:--

Fig. 1 shows the apparatus with a descending skip engaging thechute-gate; and Fig. 2 shows the same with the chute-gate held in openposition.

My apparatus consists of a chute carrying an undercut gate, asdescribed, opened by a descending skip, held open by a hook, released bythe weight of the loaded skip through action of a compound lever asdescribed, and closed by counterweights.

The skip 1 carries dogs 2 so positioned as to engage rollers 3 carriedon the free end of the fiat bars 4 pivoted on the ends of the roundshaft 5, about which the under-cut gate 6 rotates in opening. The bars 4are held in position to engage the skip by studs 7 extending laterallyfrom the face plate 8 of the gate 6. The

said gate is supported by and rotates about the round shaft 5, which isso located on the bot tom of the chute 14 that the face plate of thegate 6 covers and closes the opening of the chute. Extending backwardsfrom the gate bearings 9 which rotate about the said shaft 5 are levers10 on either side of the gate, which levers carry counterweights 11. Theangle of these levers with respect to the gate is such that when thegate is drawn into an open position by the descending skip, a rod 12connecting the free ends of said levers engages a hook 13 hinged to thebottom of the chute 14 at 15. t

On the upper edge of the face of the gate extending outwardly in radialrelation thereto is a short plate 16 with upright sides 17, togetherforming a supplemental chute which extends well within the skip when thegate is open. The lower side of the gate carries a cross plate 26 sopositioned that when the gate closes the cross plate encounters the freeend of a leaf spring 27 aflixed to the bottom of the chute.

The hook 18 carries a short lever 18 projecting therefrom and lying inthe plane of the hooks rotation, which lever at its free end ispivotally connected to a rod 19, adjustable as to length. The other endof rod 19 is connected by an integral link with an arm 20 of a compoundlever, the other member of which is the lever 21. The lever 21 hassliding connection with the lever 20 by means of the pin affixed to theend of the lever 21 operating in a slot provided therefor in lever 20.On the free end of said arm 20 is an adjustable counterweight 22, whichnormally rests on the block 23. The free end 24 of the other arm of saidcompound lever is so positioned that a stud 25 carried on the skip willbe engaged by y it when the skip is lowered to receive a load.

In operation the skip is lowered and the dogs 2 engage the rollers 3,pressing the bars 4 against the studs 7 and carry the gate 6 downwardinto the open position. In this position the rod 12 connecting thelevers 11 engages the hook 13, which holds the gate in an open positionwhile the skip disengages the rollers 3 and comes to rest with the stud25 resting upon the free end 24 of the compound lever. Material from theopened chute fills the skip until, a predetermined weight being therein,it moves the end 24 of the lever downward against the counterweight 22and, through the lever and rod 19, lifts the hook 13, disengaging therod 12 and permitting the counterweights 11 to close the gate. As itcloses, the cross-member 26 encounters the free end of the leaf spring27 which absorbs the jar of the closing gate without oscillations. Asthe loaded skip is raised the dogs 2 encounter the rollers 3 but theylift their carrying bars about their pivoted connections on the ends ofthe shaft 5 and permit the skip to pass without disturbing the gate 6.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:-

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a skipbucket adapted to be moved substantially vertically on a fixed line oftravel;

a material discharge chute adjacent the line of travel of said bucket; apivotally supported under-cut gate adapted to be moved to and from aposition closing the discharge end of said chute; a counterweightedstructure mounted on said gate and adapted when free to move it toposition closing said chute; a hook rotatably mounted on a fixed pivoton a stationary element, and adapted to engage and hold said structurewhen said gate is moved from the position closing said chute; meansdisposed in the line of travel of said bucket whereby said bucket as itdescends engages said means and forces said gate away from the positionclosing said chute; and means adapted to move said hook out ofengagement with said structure, said last-named means being operable bythe weight of said bucket when loaded.

2. In apparatus 01 the character described, the combination of a skipbucket, a material discharge chute; an under-cut gate adapted to closeand open the discharge end of said chute; a counterweighted structureadapted when free to move said gate to close said chute; a hookrotatably mounted on a fixed pivot on a stationary element and adaptedto engage and hold said structure when said gate is moved to open saidchute; means disposed in the line of travel of said bucket whereby saidbucket as it descends engages said means and moves said gate to opensaid chute; and means adapted to move said hook out of engagement withsaid structure, said last-named means being operable by the weight ofsaid bucket when loaded.

MAHLON E. FIRST.

